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Visit the charity's profileAs a direct result of the pandemic many MAMA Youth Project trainees and alumni from disadvantaged backgrounds are struggling to cope with both financial pressures and mental health issues. MYP now seeks support in the form of donations to their Hardship Fund (Covid-19) in order to protect vulnerable young people from the damaging effects of the outbreak as far as possible.
The MAMA Youth charity, whose mission is to help young people from under-represented and challenging backgrounds with limited opportunities gain the skills required to secure fulfilling employment in the media industry, is issuing a further call to action following the latest lockdown.
The organisation is asking for donations and for friends and supporters of the charity to share the campaign with their networks in a bid to provide subsistence to trainees and alumni who continue to struggle financially due to Covid-19.
The Covid-19 Hardship Fund will help provide basic provisions such as food supplies, aid with rent and utility bills for those at risk of becoming homeless, in addition to IT equipment so that they may continue with their training and search for work.
Last year the emergency Just Giving Campaign raised over £9000 in total and provided a lifeline to 11 MYP trainees and alumni, enabling them to cope during training and unemployment. The money donated ensured that those most vulnerable could pay for rent, food and transport, and other necessities during difficult times.
The fund has meant one-month worth of oxygen to me, as I felt like I couldn't breathe just being terrified of becoming homeless again. My universal credit application was taking time to process and the Hardship Fund covered my rent and other necessities for that month. This fund really does save lives. Honestly, if it wasn't for the fund I don't know where Id be today. (MYP Alumni)
MAMA Youth Project are reliant on the generosity of their supporters to ensure they can provide help to those trainees and alumni who may have nobody else to turn to.
Bob Clarke, CEO MAMA Youth Project said, The wellbeing of our alumni and new trainees, many of whom come from challenging backgrounds and suffer from mental health issues, has remained paramount since the first outbreak of the virus. Due to Covid-19, along with all other businesses, our charity has been subject to unprecedented circumstances. It is so important that we continue to raise money through our Hardship Fund (Covid-19) and support existing alumni with their employment needs. We have been striving to manage the disappointment and anxiety of our newest trainees too, by keeping them engaged through Zoom training sessions and 1-2-1s. It is increasingly crucial to open doors for young people from all backgrounds and we are looking forward to resuming production and getting back to what we do best which is changing lives. In the meantime, we are appealing to our friends and supporters to help us help vulnerable young people who are at significant risk due to the pandemic.
The MYP team have recognised the need for reassurance during the lockdown and have been supporting young people in a variety of ways with everything from pastoral care to distributing laptops to those unable to job search, work or train from home with limited resources.
I moved to London specifically for my MYP training relatively soon after the first lockdown was lifted. Up until my first minimum wage pay-check, MAMA Youth paid for my railcard. It worked out at £6-8 a day, which may not seem a lot to some but made a HUGE difference to my circumstances at the time. Having just moved and needing to support myself financially following a long period of unemployment, this being taken care of allowed me to really focus on the training at hand. MYP really takes into account your personal situation and helps alleviate boundaries which would otherwise prevent you accessing the training. I am now in employment as a junior researcher thanks to the MYP team, whose support continues to guide you long after the training is complete " (MYP 2020 Graduate)
As a result of coronavirus MAMA Youth alumni are now in need of support more than ever before.
Many alumni are struggling to move away from challenging backgrounds and were already disadvantaged prior to the major set-back of the global pandemic. There are concerns that already vulnerable young people will now be subject to further financial pressure in addition to deteriorating mental health. Alumni who were just embarking on their career journey, seeing light at last at the end of the tunnel are now facing grave uncertainty instead. For them, the current circumstances could not have come at a worse time. MAMA Youth Project alumni are now at risk of becoming extremely vulnerable.
MAMA Youth need your help today! The impact of the latest lockdown on those struggling to cope financially has already been significant and is likely to worsen over the coming months. Your donation will help young people from low income and disadvantaged backgrounds who the charity pledges to protect from the damaging economic effects of Covid-19.
Any gift you are able to make during these tough times would be gratefully received.
Giving £20 could pay for basic provisions for a few days.
Giving £75 could help with rent and utility bills for a week.
Giving £150 could buy food supplies for a month.
Giving £300 could purchase a laptop.
Giving £500 could purchase a laptop with a wifi subscription or pay a month's rent or any other necessities.
Thank you to all our supporters!
A big thank you from everyone at MAMA Youth, we greatly appreciate those who are able to support us by making a gift, and those who are able to share our appeal on social media. Your generosity ensures that we can provide essential support to those alumni who may have nobody else to turn to.
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